Bird flu quarantines lifted on all Minnesota farms

All 108 farms infected this year with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus are completely cleaned, disinfected and cleared to restock their barns with poultry, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health said Tuesday.

Restocked poultry on all the affected farms have tested negative, the board said in a statement announcing the all-clear.

The first avian influenza case was disclosed March 5. The rapidly spreading virus led to the destruction of more than 9 million birds in 23 Minnesota counties, largely in turkey operations in western Minnesota. The last case was confirmed on June 5.

The animal health board continues to work with government officials and poultry farmers and executives to keep watch for any new outbreaks.

"While seeing no new cases of (bird flu) is encouraging, we know that detecting future cases remains a possibility," State Veterinarian Dr. Bill Hartmann said in a statement.